Apparatus for the electrolysis of water.



110.823,650., l. -'.P. l y l A A K J, VAREILLP.'l

APPARATUS PORl THE B'LPGPRGLYSIS oP W ATER. APPLICATION PILPD 11017.15,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

AT1`1N1111l JUNE 19, 1906.-

,'PATBNTED :NINE 19, y1906.

V K.J.VARB1LLE." :APPARATUS POR THE BjLEoTRoLYsIs of* WATER.r

l PrLIoATIoN FILED N ov. 15, 1905. l A

/a SHEETS-SHEET a.

,Egg

UrrEn STATES iufm Nr 2orgel@n.

APPARATUS Fon THE ELECrROLYSIS 0F WATEFLQ 'Beit known tha t l. 1min, JosErI-t YAREILLE it'i'fitizen ol the ltcpublic of France, residingal,ltevilloisderrct,in-Fraucc, have invented new 'n nd usefullmprovements infor l elat'ing ol`f\\1liichthe following is aspecification.`

apparatus for producingoxygen and: hydrogen by .the electrolysis ol' vwater constructed the gases are absolutely prevented from miX- *ingwithgone anotherand 'that the apparatus, necessitates onl'ji' a minimumexpenditure ,ot electrical energy, owing to the short distance vbetweenthe electrode/sol' opposite)polarity,

tliusrediicing the resistance to the passage-ot y the' cui-relitto aslow adegree as possible. .'llhefinrention will.` be tul'y describedwitlr reference to the accompanying drawings. n e `Figure`1`,-sectio1'ialelevation of the'vat on L line, 1h13', Fig;v 3 .Fig..2., sectional elevation .tln'otigh'line (."D' EFG H,- Fig. 3 yFig, 3,plein .of theyat; Fig. il, detail section tlnough' line,

lJ'jFig. `lgjFigA 5,",tf1"ns\7*erse section oi-an 'electrode toa'largerscale; Fig; 6,ho rizony yt alsec on .of portion of elect-rode onVline K L, .Figjtfn and tothe same scale. 'Y

g The apparatus consists ot a'vat haifinga lidorcover 8, `tormed in twoyor more sections. 1, Across or k:ilongthe vat ortank' ere yformedenumber of troughs 9,' preierablyar ffranged'in one `or-'moreverticallroivs.` l,Two `:ire `shown in tliedrawingSi ythe se'cti'onkotvv'each ot'which isl of'V vshape. These'troughs l vis preferably made olmetal, and they are con- 4 virected ait-theirendswith the latter;r asshown 11 il1` 1vgs.'2 end-l. g n

'. In, eachgrow thelon-'esttrough 1s 'connected `Ierably,` ofA v either;sheet fcorrugations;grooves', orv other Aprojections formed thereon andwhen made cast-iron arejpret'erbly constructed as' shownin Figs;

Specification of Letters Patent.` Application filed November 15,1905.Serial No. 287,502.'y v

I to minratuses for 'the Electrolysisoi' firtenvv connected toterminals16 and 17, suitnblyinf.

l c l i sulated fromthe sections of the lid S on which .heobjcct ol thisnivention 1s to provide iusuchxzt manner that as theyare'produced v ortank-7,;V n section would nevertheless remain insulated` v arepreferably cast in one with the tat, which -the acidulated water oi'therati; v Eac 'ofthemarefplaced electrodes 13 formed? prety orv cast` iron,having i Patented June 19, 19061l In eachi'owot troughs the electrodesplaced. 5 on one side are `conmeted togetheruntli,supfVV ported by meansot ay number of screwed rods -14., to which the electrodesare attachednuts. 15,' v At theirupper ends theserods are y(io.

they are. placed. .n The terminals on alternate sections oi'- the'lidnre connected to leads of oppositepolarity.'

The sides ofthe troughs are proided with insulators'lS, 'made ofebonite, glass, annalithus, or othersuitable materiah' for, the purepose of completely insulatingthe:electrodes. 13 from the other parts oithe apparatus. i .The electrodes 13 may be adjusted \-'erti. callyl bymeans of thenuts 15 on the threaded rods 1-1 andare arranged in 'such ania-nner.

.that their lower edges are placed at a lese-lav little above the bottomedges i 20 ofthe. troughs which separate them fromV the elec-g trodesot' opposite pole placed.oppositev to them. j n

The sections of the lid S' are sepa-rated from the. vat by a sheet ofindia-rubber or other material capable of'insuring a tight joint as wellas of acting as an insulator, so thatjit the terminels band 17fon theseparate sections ofthe cover or lid 8 were badly insulated each romtheothers and'no short circuit could'y 8'5- take place between the leads.4' For thispur-g ose-the bolts 21, connecting the-'sections of id 8 withthe vat 7, are electrically insulated from the said sections S. y Eachsection of the lid S-is formed with a" trough ortunne-l 22 cast with itand also with a. tube or pipedownwardly extending there' from anddesigned to befimmersed dee ly in lisec-Qy tion 8 ot the lid Ais alsoformed with a gas-out f9 5 let pipe '24,' connected,4 preferably bymeans i' of a packed joint-,with second pipe 25, the upper end of. whichis bent over and opens under the level of the water contained in achamber or ,1'eceiver 2G, the walls ol?` `:which mo vare preferablymadeot' glass.. 'The top 2710i'` this chamber 26 is provided with aconncc tion to connect same with-uf pipejlcading to a vgasometer,I,'l"he water :incach' glass l ychamber or'receirer 26 isikept at'ytliel'evcl ref" quired for. maintaining equilibrium w it h thc`pressure ol the corresponding gasomcl er.

positive'learh the glass chamber or redeiver l Walls of the troughs,between. which the is produced, give it an upward .movement and that thepassage'oi bubbles of gas from' one electrode to the otherl,is-impossible, bef cause to do so the gas would have te pass underthebottoin edge 2()r ofthe trough separatin two opposed electrodeaiwhichis impossi le, the density of the gas-bubbles preventing them trom goingdownward the,

liquid, j

thecoiinections ofthe electrodes above that the glass chambers orreceivers 26 ongboth sidesotthe apparatus (see Fig. 3) are dew signed'toreceive the hydrogen, While' the lmiddle chamber receives the oxygen..'The'troughs or fininels '22'serve to fill the .vat or (tank. Withliquid, and the ,pipe 23 is -providedto avoid the necessity' oi havingto close or cover the said troughs or tunnels 22 and. alsoy to preventthe gases formed in the vat 'from escaping] Should there be, however,.from any cause overproduction of gas,

escape` to the open air Without'any 'anger of .the ,Water would be iirstdriven back-through the pipes 23,and the gases could/afterward explosionin the va l Also,-ii thell velbf the Water in the vat sf kstoo lowthegases can escape in thesame Way tothe o en air. i

T ye projection 28 yis formed ortho reception of a plugl to' enablethatvat to be em- 4.o ployed', and the projection 29 is designed to:v

. receive a Waterlevel indicator. y y

rEhe number of threaded rods 14 which sustain-the electrodes 13 mayvar'- With the length of the latter, and the num er of vertical rows ottroughs may bevaried accordi ing to the Width of the vat, which may beof any size.-

-Having now particularlydescribed and ascertained the nature of my .saidinvention 5o and in what manner the' same is to be performed, I declarethat lWhat l claim is--` 1. An electrolytic apparatus comprising incombination a tank, ay plurality of superposed troughs, and a pluralityoi electrodes interposed between the Walls of said troughs,

said troughs and electrodes being so arranged that the bottom of eachtrough projects beloW the lower edge of the corresponding electrode.

2. An electrolytic. apparatus comprising in combination a tank, apluralityv of superposed troughs, and a plurality of electrodesinterposedbetween the Walls of said troughs, said troughs and electrodesbeing so arran d that? 'the bottom of each troughprojects eeesceei saidtroughs, said troughsand electrodes being soj'arranged that-,the bottoniof? each' trough projects below the lower edge of the corresponding`electrode.

.4. An electrolytic apparatus comprising in combination a tank, aplurality of superposed V--shaped troughs, and a plurality ol"electrodes interposed between the walls of said troughs, said troughsand. electrodes bel ing so arranged that the .bottom oi each ltresultsfrom the arrangement of the ap-l paratusshown and from the .indications'of trough projects below`-` the lower edge of the correspondingelectrode, the walls ci sind .trough being insulated at points adjacenthe osed trouvhscast inteffral therewith .a )luralitye of electrodesinterposed between the Walls of said troughs, ad 'ustahle rods dcpendingfrom the upper wall ot the tank, and means for adjustably securing saidelectrodes upon said rods.

6. An electrolytic ap )aratuscomprlsing in combination'a tank, aplurality of super iosed troughs cast integral therewith, a plurality ofelectrodes'interposed between the walls of said troughs, adjustablerodsdepending from the upper'wall ofthe tank, and means 'for adjustysecuring said electrodes upon said rods, said troughs and electrodesbeing so arranged that the bottom of each trough projects beloW thellower edge of the corresponding elec-V trode, the Walls of said troughbeing insulated at points adjacent the electrodes.

7. An electrolytic apparatus comprising in combination a tank, aplurality of superposed il-shaped troughs cast integral therewith, aplurality of electrodes interposed between the Walls of said troughs,adjustable rods depending from the u per Wall of the tank, and

means for adjustab y securing said electrodes upon` said rods, suchtroughs and electrodes being so arranged that the bottoni of each troughprojects below the lower edge of the corres onding'electrode.

8, electrolytic apparatus comprising in combination a tank, a pluralityof superposed Vshaped troughs cast integral therewith, a lurality ofelectrodes interposed be tween t ie Walls of said troughs, adjustablerods depending from the upper wall of the tank, and means for adjustablysecuring said electrodes upon said rods, said tro glis and electrodesbeing so arranged that l" .o bottoni 'of each trough projects below (helower edge of the correspondinv electrode, the walls of said troughbeing insulated at points adjacent the electrodes.

IOS

' in combination a tank,"aplurality of Superf l 'spending electrode, anda plurality of fillingtube'sfforsaid tankha'ving projections exten l Anelectrolyti'e ap aratus comprisingvin combination a tank, ap urality ofsuperposed troughs, a plurality o electrodes interposed vb etween theWalls of said troughs ,-'said troughs and electrodes being so arran edthat the b'ot.v tom of 'each trough projects elow the lower A edge ofthe corres onding electrode, and a plurality of filling-tub es for saidtank having projections extending to a point below the uppermost trough.

1'0. An electrolytic apparatus comprising posed Veshaped troughs, alurality of ectrodes interposed lbetween t je walls of-sa'id troughs,said troughs' and eledtrodes being so arran ed that the'bottom of eachtrough projects elow the lower edge of the corre'- ing to'apoint belowthe uppermost trough.

, l'11, An electrolytic apparatus comprising I 'e in combinationa'tank,a-plura lityof superv posed'trou hs castintegr v rality of' eectrodes intelTP9$ 1between the.

walls of "said" troughs, adgustable'frods 'del :pending from the upperwall of the tank,

means r adjustablysecuring said 'electrodes upon said rods, and alplurality of filling-tubes therewithl P1111 to a point belowtheuppermost'trough.

in combination a tankfprov'ided with a top wall composed of separatesections, each secing downwardly into said tank, means for insulatingsaid sections from the tank, ad'- justable -rods extending downwardly"`from said sections finto said tank and insulatedfrom saidsections,.`aplurality of'superposed V-sha ed -troughs cast integral with ."oentralwallsjiormmg su ports- `or said sec- `a plurality of electrodesadjustably mounted on said rods and projecting between the Walls of saidtroughs, said troughs and electrodes said electrodes'.

being so arranged that the bottoms of said g troughs extend belowthe'lower portions ,ofl

c `In[testimonywhereof I: have aixed 'my for said tank.v 'havingproiectidiis extending- {3Q- 12. An electrolytic apparatus ornprisingf`'tionbeing provided with Milling-.tube extend- `35 said tank,` teuppermost trou hs having-- tions intermediate the lsi es of the tank;and

